--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was no more reasonable sequitur…" description: "\"“There was no more reasonable sequitur between “provocation” and “reaction” in the case of the French Revolution than in the case of the Jews and the N..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/440/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn-1946_atrocities_there-was-no-more-reasonable-sequitur-be_701853.jpg" --- # There was no more reasonable sequitur between… ![“There was no more reasonable sequitur between “provocation” and “reaction” in the case of the French Revolution than in the case of the Jews and the Nazis, the Armenians and the young Turks, the old Russian regime, the Kerensky interlude and bolshevism, Portuguese colonial rule in Angola and the…” quote by Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/440/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn-1946_atrocities_there-was-no-more-reasonable-sequitur-be_701853.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/440/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn-1946_atrocities_there-was-no-more-reasonable-sequitur-be_701853.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/440/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn-1946_atrocities_there-was-no-more-reasonable-sequitur-be_701853.jpg) > ““There was no more reasonable sequitur between “provocation” and “reaction” in the case of the French Revolution than in the case of the Jews and the Nazis, the Armenians and the young Turks, the old Russian regime, the Kerensky interlude and bolshevism, Portuguese colonial rule in Angola and the horrors perpetrated by savage monsters of Holden Roberto’s “Liberation Front,” the Belgian administration in the Congo and the delirious atrocities of Gbenye and Mulele, British colonialism in Kenya and the Mau-Mau. We have to face the fact that man is not “good”—only the extraordinary man is, only the heroic saint or the saintly hero, while the noble savage belongs to the world of fairy tales.”” [Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that historical atrocities stem from ordinary people, not innate goodness, and that only exceptional individuals embody true virtue. **In simple terms:** Ordinary people cause atrocities; only exceptional are truly good. Key Takeaway Recognize the danger of assuming inherent goodness. Themes history human nature politics violence morality Mood cautious critical somber Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - education - policy making - conflict resolution - media analysis Key Concepts Moral relativism exceptionalism historical cycles Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do societies have to prevent ordinary complicity? - Can exceptional individuals truly change systemic evil? A Different Perspective Overlooks systemic factors that enable evil. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atrocities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atrocities/) [Delirious Atrocities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delirious-atrocities-5553918/) [Fairy tale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy-tale/) [Fairy tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy-tales/) [French revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/french-revolution/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Original sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original-sin/) [Perpetrated Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perpetrated-savage-5553916/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) ## Related quotes > [For the average person, all problems date to World War II; for the more informed, to World War I; for the genuine historian, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/for-the-average-person-all-problems-date-to-world-war-ii-for-the-more/) [Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/) > [The German people is not marked by original sin, but by original nobility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-rosenberg/the-german-people-is-not-marked-by-original-sin-but-by-original/) [Alfred Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-rosenberg/) > [“Innocence and guilt. 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Today, we have come to unconsciously believe in the original sin of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/in-the-past-we-believed-both-sexes-were-born-with-original-sin-today/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Blood sin and desecration of the race are the original sin in this world and the end of a humanity which surrenders to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/blood-sin-and-desecration-of-the-race-are-the-original-sin-in-this/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [The most devastating thing though that biology did to Christianity was the discovery of biological evolution. Now that we know that Adam and Eve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zindler/the-most-devastating-thing-though-that-biology-did-to-christianity/) [Frank Zindler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zindler/) > [The original sin is to limit the Is. Don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-original-sin-is-to-limit-the-is-don-t/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [“The next time believers tell you that 'separation of church and state' does not appear in our founding document, tell them to stop using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/the-next-time-believers-tell-you-that-separation-of-church-and-state/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) ## More by Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn > [“For the genuine materialist there is no fundamental, but only a gradual, an “evolutionary” difference, between man and a pest, a noxious insect”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/for-the-genuine-materialist-there-is-no-fundamental-but-only-a/) [Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/) > [“The state has an "annexationist" character tending toward centralization and the development of a Provider State. 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Who has work, spiritual care, medical care, housing, food, occasional entertainment, free clothing, free burial, free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/who-is-secure-in-all-his-basic-needs-who-has-work-spiritual-care/) [Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/) > [“To accuse nations (not leaders or governments) is the hallmark of the demo-nationalist of the nineteenth or twentieth centuries; it leads to endless hatreds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/to-accuse-nations-not-leaders-or-governments-is-the-hallmark-of-the/) [Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/) > [“Modifying Clausewitz’ aphorism—war is the continuation of diplomacy by other means—one could say that in ideologically divided countries civil war is but the continuation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/modifying-clausewitz-aphorism-war-is-the-continuation-of-diplomacy-by/) [Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/) > [People are rarely diabolic or bent enthusiastically on evil. As a rule, they are only weak; they cannot resist temptation and thus give way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/people-are-rarely-diabolic-or-bent-enthusiastically-on-evil-as-a-rule/) [Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/) > [ \[T\]he democratic principle of "one man, one vote," viewed against a background of voting masses numbering several millions, only serves to demonstrate the pitiful… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/t-he-democratic-principle-of-one-man-one-vote-viewed-against-a/) [Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/) > [“There is no such thing as a historical fatality; there is only a historical nemesis which punishes those who have hesitated to act when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-historical-fatality-there-is-only-a/) [Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/) > [“As a form of neurosis, race-conscious nationalism almost always ignores logic and knowledge: In the East European civil wars between 1918 and 1920 Jews…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/as-a-form-of-neurosis-race-conscious-nationalism-almost-always/) [Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/) > [“In Catholic countries we saw (and sometimes still see) a large number of illiterates side by side with an intellectual élite of high standards.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/in-catholic-countries-we-saw-and-sometimes-still-see-a-large-number/) [Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/) > [As humanism begins to dominate the state, the consequence is complete hostile annexation of the church or persecution by separation. Religion is then removed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/as-humanism-begins-to-dominate-the-state-the-consequence-is-complete/) [Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/) [Explore all 32 Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-von-kuehnelt-leddihn/) ## More Atrocities quotes > [A furious Peeta hammers Haymitch with the atrocity he could become party to, but I can feel Haymitch watching me. This is the moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/a-furious-peeta-hammers-haymitch-with-the-atrocity-he-could-become/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [As far as I know, the question of whether and how it could be strategically or morally justified was never the subject of open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-far-as-i-know-the-question-of-whether-and-how-it-could-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“I do not know where Viktor and Rudolf were taken. I cannot find the records. I never Elisabeth or Iggie. It is possible that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-de-waal/i-do-not-know-where-viktor-and-rudolf-were-taken-i-cannot-find-the/) [Edmund de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-de-waal/) > [I have become convinced, through my studies, that the only way to achieve a safe, just and viable world is to live by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/i-have-become-convinced-through-my-studies-that-the-only-way-to/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [Yet only the atrocities of the conquered are referred to as criminal acts; those of the conqueror are justified as necessary, heroic, and even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-fergus/yet-only-the-atrocities-of-the-conquered-are-referred-to-as-criminal/) [Jim Fergus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-fergus/) > [“I don't know how to stop the atrocities. I don't know how to make people care. 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He is the only one that gathers his brethren about him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/man-is-the-only-animal-that-deals-in-that-atrocity-of-atrocities-war/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Well before September 11, it was understood that with modern technology, the rich and powerful will lose their near monopoly of the means of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/well-before-september-11-it-was-understood-that-with-modern/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Every Christian who studies history can only grieve over the atrocities that have been committed in the name of God by people who refuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berit-kjos/every-christian-who-studies-history-can-only-grieve-over-the/) [Berit Kjos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berit-kjos/) > [Fanatics can justify practically any atrocity to themselves. 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Our refusal to face the truth about empire, our refusal to defy the multitudinous crimes and atrocities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/human-beings-can-be-redeemed-empires-cannot-our-refusal-to-face-the/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) [Browse all 335 Atrocities quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atrocities/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There was no more reasonable sequitur between “provocation” and “reaction” in the case of the French Revolution than in the case of the Jews and the Nazis, the Armenians and the young Turks, the old Russian regime, the Kerensky interlude and bolshevism, Portuguese colonial rule in Angola and the horrors perpetrated by savage monsters of Holden Roberto’s “Liberation Front,” the Belgian administration in the Congo and the delirious atrocities of Gbenye and Mulele, British colonialism in Kenya and the Mau-Mau. 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